The People’s Committee of the southern Tay Ninh Province has fined Hai Duong Co Ltd VND227.5 million (US$10,700) for illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the Vam Co Dong River.

The company specialises in manufacturing paper and packing material. The local police’s investigation found that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the river was 4.21 times more than the permitted level, while the biochemical oxygen demand during the five-day test (BOD5) was 5.98 times higher than the permitted level.

The committee also ordered the company to stop discharging untreated wastewater into the environment until it implements the wastewater treatment system as per the regulations.